So I start the journey back: to Fort Cochin, to Chennai, to Frankfort, to Detroit (Detroit??), to Denver, to Fort Collins. Several forts in there...part of the history of groups taking over land from other groups. I rode the bus back to Fort Cochin this morning, discovering a litle of how it works for a bus driver. One principle is "use al the road", that is, even though there are only two lanes, there is room for three vehicles or more abreast of one another. Two buses, for example, going the same or opposite directions plus a car or several rickshaws or multiple motorcycles. A second principle is "look for an opening" and head for it. This is about finding space for one's own vehicle, but also leaving just enough space for other vehicles to squeeze past (though they might have to give onto the side of the roadway (usually no "shoulder"). And another is "use the horn" for warning, for bringing notice to yourself, for letting someone know you are passing, about to pass or have just passed. And a fourth is "bulk," the bigger you are the more road you can command. When the road is clear, a bus or car will tend to drive down its center, allowing space for the motorcycles and rickshaws and bikes and people on foot on both sides. It is not blind obediance to some set of abstract government regulations, it is a kind of ballet of multiple players, a continual flow of movement and rhythm. Yet I have seen many fewer accidents than in Fort Collins in the space of these three weeks. It must have to do with focus...drivers are very focused on the dance. They are not sipping lattes and answering the phone...they watch the road carefully. And also as an Indian pointed out, "Don't worry, the finger of God is on it."
Monday, April 2, 2007
On the bus
So I start the journey back: to Fort Cochin, to Chennai, to Frankfort, to Detroit (Detroit??), to Denver, to Fort Collins. Several forts in there...part of the history of groups taking over land from other groups. I rode the bus back to Fort Cochin this morning, discovering a litle of how it works for a bus driver. One principle is "use al the road", that is, even though there are only two lanes, there is room for three vehicles or more abreast of one another. Two buses, for example, going the same or opposite directions plus a car or several rickshaws or multiple motorcycles. A second principle is "look for an opening" and head for it. This is about finding space for one's own vehicle, but also leaving just enough space for other vehicles to squeeze past (though they might have to give onto the side of the roadway (usually no "shoulder"). And another is "use the horn" for warning, for bringing notice to yourself, for letting someone know you are passing, about to pass or have just passed. And a fourth is "bulk," the bigger you are the more road you can command. When the road is clear, a bus or car will tend to drive down its center, allowing space for the motorcycles and rickshaws and bikes and people on foot on both sides. It is not blind obediance to some set of abstract government regulations, it is a kind of ballet of multiple players, a continual flow of movement and rhythm. Yet I have seen many fewer accidents than in Fort Collins in the space of these three weeks. It must have to do with focus...drivers are very focused on the dance. They are not sipping lattes and answering the phone...they watch the road carefully. And also as an Indian pointed out, "Don't worry, the finger of God is on it."
